What Happens If I Swipe My Debit Card as 'Credit'?

It's a question we've all heard when shopping: "Credit or debit?" It seems straightforward, just the cashier asking you what type of payment card you're using, but there's actually a lot more history to that question than you might think.

Debit and credit transactions are processed differently: Here's how MasterCard explained it in an emailed statement to Credit.com: When you use a debit card and your PIN (personal identification number), the transaction is completed in real time, also known as an online transaction — you authorize the purchase with your PIN and the money is immediately transferred from your bank account to the merchant. With a credit card, or using a debit card as credit, it's an offline transaction.

"The funds for offline transactions are deducted after the merchant settles the purchase with the credit card processor and typically take 2-3 days to be reflected in your account balance," MasterCard says.